All-Gender Restroom Program
Stanford University is committed to ensuring that the institutional systems and lived experiences of transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary (TGNC) students, faculty and staff within our community are inclusive. The university’s efforts to provide more restroom choice in it's academic, administrative and residential facilities further reflects this commitment in action and aligns with IDEAL Strategic Plan. As noted in a previous Provost's communication, "we are trying to provide an all-gender restroom option in every building; that will mean in some cases that restroom facilities will change in order to prioritize the goal of campus-wide gender inclusion."
The Diversity & Access Office, with support from the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity, Access & Community and the Office of Sexual Assault & Relationship Abuse Education & Response (SARA), is responsible for oversight of the All-Gender Restroom Program and requests that building managers thoughtfully consider restroom choice for all, including our transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary (TGNC) community members at Stanford.
History
Effective on March 1, 2017, California law required all single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation or state or local government agency to be identified as all-gender toilet facilities. While the university had long considered restroom choice, particularly for people with disabilities who may need the help of personal assistants of a different gender, as well as families with children of different genders, it took this opportunity to to respond to transgender and non-binary students' request for more restroom choice and apply the law more liberally throughout campus.
Program Goals, Priorities & Implementation Plan
In an effort to ensure all academic, administrative and residential facilities have at least one all-gender restroom facility, and more as defined by building occupants, user need and type of facility, the Diversity & Access, University Architect/Campus Planning & Design office (UA/CPD), and the Department of Project Management (DPM), with input from campus colleagues and community members developed the following plan:
- Create guidelines and signage standard for All-Gender Restroom and Shower and Changing Facilities in new construction and renovations. - COMPLETE 2017
- Covert single-occupancy, gendered restrooms to all-gender restrooms (locks installed and signage change in over 100 buildings). - COMPLETE 2018
- Provide map of all-gender restroom location - Static map created in 2018 and all-gender restroom currently available via overlay on searchable campus map (SUID required)
- Evaluate remaining campus facilities with no all-gender restroom option and prioritize funding for construction of single-occupancy, all-gender restroom or renovation of existing multi-occupancy, gendered restroom to multi-occupancy, all-gender restroom. - ONGOING
- Increase visibility of all-gender restroom location within buildings by installing directional signage at point of entry. - ONGOING
Additional Resources
Signage Standard for All-Gender Restrooms
FAQs for All-Gender Restrooms at Stanford
The Diversity and Access Office is available to provide consultation to building managers related to specific building needs and options. Funding may be available to convert gendered restrooms to all-gender restrooms in zone-managed buildings. Please contact equalopportunity@stanford.edu or (650) 725-0326.